POLICE watchdogs will meet this week to decide whether yet another inquiry should be launched into the crisis-hit Cleveland force after a dramatic new twist.

Lawyers representing suspended detective Ray Mallon have lodged an official complaint about the conduct of senior officers - and demanded an urgent and "fearless" investigation.

They have taken the rare step of writing to every member of Cleveland Police Authority, making serious allegations about key figures in the force.

Yesterday's move came as it was announced that yet another senior officer faces disciplinary charges as part of Operation Lancet.

Mr Mallon's lawyers want assurances that the allegations will be investigated by an independent force.

Those named in the official complaint include Chief Constable Barry Shaw; Detective Chief Superintendent Kevin Pitt; and former Deputy Chief Constable Robert Turnbull.

The complaints include:

l An allegation from Hartlepool civilian police worker Jayne Thwaites that Chief Constable Barry Shaw was behind false rumours that she had an affair with Mr Mallon.

l That Mr Mallon and Miss Thwaites were both followed by a Government agency, thought to be MI5.

l That Mr Shaw was responsible for leaking a confidential Government document to a national newspaper, which was critical of Mr Mallon's zero tolerance police style - a claim already being investigated by the Police Complaints Authority.

l That Mr Shaw, Chief Supt Pitt, and former Deputy Chief Constable Robert Turnbull wasted time and money with an "unnecessary" investigation into Mr Mallon's expenses.

Another allegation concerns a court hearing in June this year when a judge said a "catalogue of errors" turned an inquiry into the alleged police theft of a boiler into a farce.

Mr Justice Henriques hit out at Hull Crown Court after the collapse of the case against Middlesbrough detectives Russ Daglish and Brendon Whitehead.

He ordered Chief Supt Pitt, who played a prominent role in the Lancet inquiry, to appear before him.

The judge said Chief Supt Pitt's decision to submit a 400-page document on the eve of the trial, was "guaranteed to delay this trial and waste a vast amount of public money".

He told him: "You have shown absolutely no regard for the criminal justice process."

In August, Mr Mallon made a formal complaint to Home Secretary Jack Straw that senior officers conspired to pervert the course of justice.

Meanwhile, it was revealed yesterday that Det Supt John Tough, who worked at Middlesbrough, is facing four allegations of neglect of duty as a result of the Lancet inquiry.

Mr Mallon's solicitor, Mike Hymanson, told The Northern Echo it was up to Cleveland Police Authority to decide if officers should face suspension.

"These are serious allegations and have not been made lightly," he said.

A Cleveland Police Authority spokesman said the letter would be discussed on Friday. "Advice is being obtained on the course of action to follow," he added.

The Home Office, Police Complaints Authority and Cleveland Police all declined to comment.

Cleveland Police Authority member Coun Alan Clark said: "Many of the allegations in the letter are already in the public domain. There is nothing new really, whatsoever. These have all been looked into now for some time, and they are just being rehashed."

Mr Mallon remains suspended despite being cleared of criminal wrong-doing, but still faces disciplinary charges. He declined to comment.

Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate, former national chairman of the Police Superintendents' Association, said: "This only underlines what I have been saying - that there is a need for a public inquiry."

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